There’s no need to feel guilty about raiding the fridge after midnight.

Scientists say that eating late at night does not make you fat.

The Oregon Health & Science University conducted tests on 47 monkeys and found no link between when the animals ate and whether they put on weight.

“Time and again, we’ve been told that eating late at night should be avoided because it will cause weight gain,” said Dr Judy Cameron, who led the study. It may “be somewhat of an urban myth.”

Nigel Denby of the British Dietetic Association, who backed the findings, said, “The bottom line is a calorie is a calorie whenever you eat it. People are more likely to eat fatty snacks at night when they are watching television.

“Certainly, if you need to eat after 6 p.m. or 8 p.m., it is probably healthier to sit down and have a meal. Otherwise, you risk grazing on fatty foods.”